Richwood falls to West Feliciana in Class 3A title game

Richwood's Geor'quarius Spivey (1) goes up for a catch against West Feliciana in the Class 3A state championship game on Friday night in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.(Photo: Scott Threlkeld/The Advocate)

NEW ORLEANS — If someone told you Richwood would score 21 points and lose, would you take that bet?

It seems almost as improbable as the Rams getting to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the first place.

Three touchdowns were what Richwood coach Robert Arvie required from an offense that times has been explosive and others maddening. The defense, maybe the pound-for-pound best in northeast Louisiana, would take care of the rest.

The plan was enough to get the Rams to Friday night’s Class 3A state championship game, but on the biggest stage of the season, special teams that decided the game.

The all-important third phase of football cost the eighth-seeded Rams (11-4) a chance at a title in a 40-21 loss to sixth seed West Feliciana (14-1).

West Feliciana’s Davon Harris set a Prep Classic record with 180 kickoff return yards and was named the Most Valuable Player.

“Harris was the difference in the game,” Arvie said. “I’m the special teams coordinator…all we could do was pooch it and kick it up the hash. He broke three or four tackles and all you could do after the game was shake his hand.

“It’s disappointing to come up short in the last game of the season but what these kids did this year and for our program was special.”

Harris, who also ran 13 times for 84 yards and a touchdown, returned a kickoff 87 yards for a score to open the third quarter and set the Saints up inside the Richwood 10-yard line twice with two other returns.

Richwood came into the Superdome with a resume that included two shutouts and six outings of eight points or less, but gave up over 30 points for the first time since a Week 4 loss to Bastrop, despite forcing three turnovers.

The Rams came out in the second half throwing to senior wide receiver Geor’Quarius Spivey, who caught five passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and mixed in an old Arvie favorite, the Wing-T.

Senior running back Anthony Watson ran for a 17-yard touchdown in the third quarter that got Richwood its desired 21 points and cut West Feliciana’s lead to 23-21. The only problem was West Feliciana rattled off 17 unanswered points after Watson’s touchdown run.

“I just put my trust in my blockers and followed them,” Watson said. “The offensive line was opening up holes and I was finally able to get one.”

Spivey was ejected in the fourth quarter following back-to-back personal fouls, which robbed Richwood of its top playmaker and sent the offense into a tailspin.

Save for a handful of plays, Richwood succeeded in slowing the game to a methodical pace from the opening whistle. The Rams prefer to play ugly — why wouldn’t they with that defense — which was an accurate description for the first half.

Spivey’s first catch covered 31 yards and gave Richwood a 7-0 lead to start the second quarter. The deep ball was a key component for the Rams from their first offensive snap when Smith uncorked a 40-yard shot to Zion Stokes.

Befitting of the first half, the drive ended with zero points.

“We had our chances in the first half,” Arvie said. “We couldn’t jump on them with the momentum we had or finish drives. West Feliciana deserves all the credit for their victory.”

Junior defensive back Benny Davis was all over the field for Richwood through two quarters and stopped two West Feliciana drives with a fumble recovery and an interception.

“I was just doing my best to play my role and help this team win,” Davis said. “This was the last time we’ll all be together and I wish we could have sent the seniors out with a ring.”

West Feliciana quarterback Derek Howard answered Richwood’s first touchdown with a 73-yard run to the end zone. A 63-yard punt return by the Saints led to a 20-yard Luke Stelly field goal after the Rams put together a goal-line stand inside their 5-yard line.

Aided by a Richwood personal foul penalty, West Feliciana drove 78 yards on nine plays, ate more than 3 minutes off the clock, and took a nine-point lead into the locker room on a 6-yard pass from Turner to Clayton Howard.

“It hurts right now because we went through a lot to get to where we are,” senior defensive back/wide receiver Hidari Ceasar said.

“We did our best and I’m just proud of all my brothers and the coaches for laying it on the line.”